Telephone transmitter



Feb. 25, 1,930.

w. H. CLAYTON TELEPHONE TRANSMI TTER Filed July 26. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet SM1/toa W11. Ulqgon,

Wamlllll r-JL Feb. 25, 1930. w. H. CLAYTON TELEPHONE TRANSMITTER Filed my 26. 1927 l INIHHHH u .1U

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Patented i F eb. 25,V 1930 mmf@me- WiIiLIAM H. cLAYToivor Pina Btnrr, ARKANSAS n j p rELEPHon rnnnsiurrrnn Application flied :muy 2s,

y rlhis invention relates to 'certain novel and practical improvements in telephone trans-- A mitters, particularly of the typer covered'byv my former yPatent No. 1,529,343, granted' yf March' `10,' `1925,"and primarilyv has for'itsv objectit'oimprove the sensitiveness vand clar-v f itykof4 the instrument, andr alsolyviden Vits range of use according to the particular'service required thereof,'at the same time adapt- '10 ing 'theinstrument for 'general telephony, as Well asfor anyk Vspecial uses,fsuch as inradio circuits. 'f 1' ""V'Inaddition' tor these generalobjects. the invention contemplates certain "improve-y ments( in the 'manner'of-mountingv and cofV ordinating the vibrating parts of the instru-l ment, therebyto obtain a refmement inthe phonetic value thereof, at the'same time'havj. ing in 'view' a' construction which is `Well adaptedor production manufactureat low cost, and which makes an instrument'wlnch -isthoroughly practical'for use in rany and vallpositions and for 'any' purpose Ato, Which a sound transmitting"devicefmaybe utilized. VZ5

Fig-ure 1 .isa side elevation, withv the 'cas-r,

ing in section, of a sound transmitting in-, strument,'termed herein telephone transmitter, having the parts assembled in Y the manner contemplated. 'f Figure@ is a plan view ofth'einstrument with thefbalanced contactcarriers and their supports removed. l v

Figure '3 is a similar View showingy the in strument'rfiwith the4 balanced ContactY carriers 1927. Serial No. 208,630.A f

and their supportspin "position over-the mary or universalelectrode bar. 1y vFigures isv a verticalsectional Viewy ofthe Working partsl oifk the instrument.

Y Figu're is ajslreletonized perspective Viewy of4 the coordinated vactive elements of the instrument. L f f y o Figures 6,7y and' 8 'are diagrammatic views illustratingl the different electrical circuit arrangements that may be employed f Withv the vinstrument.rk

The Working vparts `of the instrument are housedin a suitable casingk or boxing designated generally-by the letter C,'the `same including the usual fro'ntpanel or plate which will be termed hereinfthe base, upon which thevvorking parts of the instrument may con#v veniently' be' mounted: and vwhich is provided with the usual-openingQ therein for receiving thesoundivave's. Over this ibase, at its .inner side, isfresiliently'y supported the primary vibrating fmem'ber vdesignated by the reference numeral' 3 and "usually termed the diaphragm'.` A feature ofpra'ctical importance is to allow thisdiaphragni or vibrating member to have -a'perfectly free 'and full motion.y To'that end theipresent invention proposes to'provid'e the dianhragm at opposite-sides thereof, which in the ordinary position,` as vshoWnin the drawings, Awould be the. upper and lower rsides of thefdiaphragm,

- Withlthe 1 bowed or bent spring i feet 4' which lightly shear'. againstv thiejinner side lof the instrument"y base, yandvr by reason: of their bowedfor bent ffdr'mation serve toq yieldingly hold the diaphragm spaced from ythe instrumentfbase a sufficient distance to permit it' freelyto yhave full vmotion as it receives andy respondsto' fthesound vibrations, This manner Iof mounting the diaphragm permitsy the sameto" bef yalancedv vin a 'I Way presently' f to besdescri'bed. Y f

l As a feature(1 of fstructure 'A connection lWiththefmounting of the diaphragm it will be noted that .the preferable form shown is a diaphragm body' of'a cupped I,or boxslike formation vhaving ythe peripheraly stiening f flange `5 `extending aboutits edges, Land this diaphragmalso preferably is rectangular in shape ands .over a .correspondinglyshaped prie c 45 Y also preferably-'cut as at 12 to form light f springshaving a fixed point Yof attachment,

bossor collar 6 which projects over the inner side of the 'instrumentnbase This detail 1s of practical importance because it is a Well recognized fact that as the sound vibrations in the air are more inthe nature of a tension than an actual movement, any obstruction `cau-sing the vibrations to move V1n an indirect path rather -than ina straight line` tends to cause movement. Because of that fact it is preferable lin carrying out the rn- Yvention to. have apart of the casing represented by the boss or collar 6 projecting into the cavity or depressed side of the vibrating member or diaphragm. o Y f To provide for a very delicate and balanced mounting of the diaphragm or primary vibrating member 3 of the'y instrument, 'and to provide for mechanically transmitting the vibrations ofthe diaphragm tothe electrical circuit .or circuits forming a part ofthe instrument, a novel system ofy levers is prefer ably employed. This leverage I.system includes primarily Aa :pai-r of tensionle-vers 7;-7 disposed respectively at `Opposite sides of the diaphragm, and constructed to have an engagement With the diaphragm 'under slight tensionso-as to be sensitive to all vibrations thereof and to become in effect apart of the diaphragm so as to follow its movement. In the preferred embodiment. shown in the drawings these-,tension levers rmay be andk are preferably .cut as at to yform light springs having a fixed attachment as at 8 or on a 4cleat or equivalent point of support 9 on the instrument base, and at its opposite `or unattached end each tension lever 7 is provided Withian engaging hook 10 which has a Y The opposite tension levers slight tensional engagement with a bearing step 11 or equivalent element projecting from the side of the diaphragm.v Y

7, which are correlated to thediaphragm 3'in the manner described, transfer vibrations received from thediaphragm to the opposite relatively long transfer levers 12.y These transferlevers are as at 13, in or on a cleat Aleontheinnerside 'of the instrument base, andthe' freeend of each of said relativelyr long transfer levers is vthe primary electrode bar 16 which" spans the spacebetween and rigidly connects as at 17 Vvivi/th the opposite transfer levers 12, It

` will nowzbe observed that the tensionally interengaged levers 7 and 12 are opposed in ltheir action to What may now be termed the seating springs 4 for the diaphragm and the combined strength of the said levers 7 and 12 preferably is so regulated as to be sub'- stantially equivalent to thestrength 01'170-V spring-action of the seating springs 4 toprovide What may be characterized as a balanced suspension for the diaphragm inyserving to overcome theV inertia thereof in both directions, as Well as to clearlygabsorb the momentumof Athe diaphragm 4in both directions v i' when acted upon by sound Waves. yBy reason ofthus balancing both the inertia and momentum of the primary vibrating mem`r ber or diaphragm'of thetransmitter, preferably by lsprings that have a higher vibrating effect the l:effectiveness of Ythe linstrument is greatly increased. 'Primarily the ytensionon the said levers?? and 12 pressing on the vi brating V member 1s sufficient to compel the i said levers to follow its movement accurately,

and by varying this tensionand'thelstrength of the springs supportingpor seating the said vibrating member or diaphragm the sensi@ tiveness of the instrument both as to loudness and pitch canbe Widely varied; also theloud- ,y 1 ness and pitch of the instrument `can be variedrby altering the Weight andY sizeof the lvlbrating member or diaphragm itself and the relative difference of Weight and of size. c v

The primaryy electrode bar, by Vreason of its function of being common to and cooper` Y' ating With one, or more balancedvelectrode carriers Which are parts ofthe electrical transmitting circuit, mayalso be termed or referred I This bar may conveniently bey inthe formof a channeled piece ofv sheet metal or other suitablek material and is designed tofhavef seated therein a plurality of carbonor equiv.-t alent conducting' electrodes 18.; Thesefelec llil() to as a universal .electrode bar. Y

trodes 18 are preferably in the form of strips Y of carbon orequivalentf. materials seated in pockets or sockets provided for by the pri-Y# mary or universal electrodev bargl, and kare of any desired length according'tothe numi ber of these electrodes it is desired fortthe instrumentto carry. Between and about the Y Y .saidelectrodes'is interposed suitable insulatf ing separators 19 to insulate them from theirV holder andv from each other so as to'prevent 'short-circuiting, andto compel the closing vof the electrical circuit betvveenV` oneor `more carbon contact elements 2O which are held in light contactr With one lor'moreA of the electrodes 18. f f f Considering each carbon or equivalent con-vr tact element 2O as a separate and independent unit of construction it `will beobserved that an important featureof the present invention Y' resides inthe mounting of these Contact ele-sV ments. Referring particularly to thexdrawings, it Willbe seenthat each carbon Contact Y element 2G is preferably ittedto or in one end lao f a lixefdpoint or attachment to ak holding block' position, and to furnish an initial tensionL o'iwliatr istermed herein a balanced Contact carrier, designated generally byy the reference numberfQl. This contact carrier is shown in the form or leverhaving a pivotal support orii'iountiiig Vat itscenter'or gravity, as'at'22,

on a supporting arm 23, one end of which has Qt'by being detachablyinserted in a slit 25 "iii'said block or inany'equivalent or'desired manner. By reason of mounting each'contact carrierQl on a pivot at its center 'of gravity,

' the contacting carbonsQO andV 18 are relieved ofpractically all pressure, an'dis 'uniform in y anyposition of instrument, and in elf-ect only theinertia or thecontact carrier 21 is encounteredby the vibrating element or carbon 18;, verylight'holding spring, carried by each supporting arm 23 and at'its free end bearing on the carrierlbetiveen the pivot 22 and the Contact `2O, is 'employed forA the purpose, merely vtol hold the contact carrierv` 21 J against displacement'from itsL loperative thatmaintainsthe ,elements and 18 in operative relation. It is byfreason of thisparticular. construction that thefinstrument is Vvgiven thejhigher vibrating period and its ef-y fectiveness much increased. "lhis is'due to thefactfthat the contacty element20 is so held against thefelectrode 18 'Whichfisactuated by the, diaphragm;that'the'inertia of the carrier 2.1 for the contact element 2O provides practically the only resistance to the variant mo ta orf or more than one pair accordingto the voltage" landamperage of the current to'be yused and according to the particiilaruse of tliein'stru-- tion' otthefelect'rode 18fwhichis eective tof correspondingly vary the current. L

. To illustrate the rvividefapplication of the 'in-v ventionthethree diagrammatic Figures 6, 7

andSare referred to'. vfisfindicated in Fig. 6 a'single one oi" 'the coiita'ctcarriers 21. and its'V contactQQ may' bevu-sedin connectionfwith a si 'gleione or the diaphragm actuatedelectrodes 20,fand1the yinstrument is constructed to'perinit olf using a singleone of the said cont carriers and its'contact element or a' pair ich Contact carriersand their elements mei ForVV instance, reiferringfiirst tol*` itt` ll' belobserved that the wiring may be conven'iei'itly made vthrough suitable binding terminals 28 and 29 fitted to the holding block which is of'Wood j-or equivalent insulated vin'at'e'ri'al-,fone Aof the lcontact carriers With its f support having 'a wire coiinecti'oiia With one binding Vterniiifi'a'l 28,farid ranother vvireV con-v nection b1 n may be madelv with the other binding terminal ,QQ-ancldirectly With the' diaphragm actuated electrode 18 Which has a contacting engagement` -With fthe contactlelem'ent 2() ,ofthefcontact carrier. rIn, l this evemplilicationofthe invention'y a single one only yor the contact carriersfand its con-y tactelement is'iisedfand the electrical circuit is completed through the "contacting'conduct-V ingelements 18v and 20. VThese binding terminals are respectively connected by Wires c andr d to a receiver R and a source or' electrical energy, as, aY battery B.

As shown iny Fig. 'Y of the drawings the illustration is of the use of a pair of the contact carriers 21 and their contact elements 20. In this embodiment or the invention the contact elements are paired so as to be included on opposite sides or the same electrical circuit, one of the contact carriers With its support `having the Wire connection a with one Wire terminal 28 andthe other contact carrier and its support having the Wire connection b with the other binding terminal 29. In this form ofthe yinvention'the electrode 18 acts as a conducting bridging element between the y ytivo vcontacty elements 20.

"As shown inFigure 8 'of the drawings a number oi the paired carbon Contact elements 20 and their associated parts are shown arrangedr over the electrode har which. carries the' plurality of separate and independently ,insulated electrodes 18. In this figure 0i the drawings vvher'e 'ajplurality or the contact elementsare employed a multiple or parallel circuitmayv be employed in connection with the telephone circuit, and to show an alternative arrangement fFig. 3 of' the drawings illustratesa series circuit for a oluralit iol:

oi'fy service' that may arise in practice. Fui-4 thermore, the novel construction and arrangement oi parts'described provide an instrunient which may be successfully operated with from oneto'tliree milliamperes of currentas compared with the muchheavier current required flor use with the telephone transmittersingeneraluse. Also, the novel construetionY and arrangement oil parts described provide a transmitting 'instrument which isv Sensitive to all]v distances, within a reasonable range., ,thus :adapting the instrument .for all kinds of service Whether in Vhouses, ractoriesy or other public places.

vIfclaimyp 1L A telephone transmitter inclu-ding a diaphragmbalanced as to motionand its eliects between opposing tensions, a primary elecltrodeactuated by the diaphragm, and a contactlelemeiit yincluded. in the electrical circuit andsoheld against the electrode that its inerizo tiaprovides the only edective resistance to the varying motion of the electrode.

2. A telephone transmitter' including a diaphragm balanced as to motion and its effects between opposing tensions, an electrode factuated bythe diaphragm, and a Contact carrier included in the electrical circuitfand carrying'-l a contact element heldagainst the electrode,

thegweiglit only oit said carrier andcontact providing the only effective resistancetothe motions of the electrode. p t

3. A telephone transmitter including a diaphragm balanced as to motion andits efects between opposingv tensions, an electrode actuated by the diaphragm,a balanced contact carrier included in the electrical circuit carnrying a contact elementV contacting With the electrode, said contact carrier and its contact*l element being so arranged that the inertia *A actuated by the diapliragmand carrying an Y electrode, and a spring tensioned contact elesor ment held against the electrode, the inertia cf said element andlits support constitutin thev resistance to the motions of the electro e..

6. A telephone transmitter including a diaphragm balanced as to motion and its eiects between opposingtensions, a system of motion reducing levers actuated by the diaphragm and carrying an electrode, and a spring tensioned contact element s o mounted that its inertia provides theceiective resist-y ance to the varying motion of the electrode. y

7 e A telephone-transniitterincluding a diaphragm, an electrode actuated by' the diaphragm, a spring tensioned pivotally mount-.. ed contact carrier carrying acontact element engaging the electrode, the inertia of said carrier andvcontact element constituting the resistance to the motions of the electrode.

8. A telephone transmitter including a diaphragm, an electrode actuated by the dia'- Aertia of said carrier an-d contact'element constituting the resistance to the motions of the electrode. y

9. telephone transmitter including a diaphragm, an lelectrode actuated by the diaphragm, and a contact carrier having a pivotal support at its center of gravity and car-k rying the contact element engaging the electrode, the inertia of said carrier and contact element constituting the resistance to the mothe'electrode,`the inertia 'of said carrier andv f` contact element constituting the resistancet'o the motions of the electrode.

"11.'A telephon-etransmitter inclu'dinga diaphragm, `an electrode actuated bythe diaphragm, and a plurality of vcontact elements includedin the electrical kcircuit 'and held against the electrode, therinertia of the con-l tact elements and their supports constituting the resistance tothe motions of the electrode. 12. A telephonel transmitter including' `a diaphragm, a vplurality of electrodes actuated by the diaphragm an-d insulated one -from thev other, and aplurality offcoiitact elements included in the electrical circuit and respectiveinertia of the contact elements and theirsup'- ports constitutingthe resistance to themotions of the electrode.

13. `Ay telephone transmitter including y diaphragm balanced `as to motion and its ef; i Y

fects between opposing' tensions, a systemrof motion reducing levers actuated by the diaphrgm and Vcarrying an electro-de holdena plurality of electrodes carried bysaid holder andinsulated therefrom and rom'each other,

and aplurality of balanced contact elements` included in the electrical circuit `and respectively held against separate electrodes. Y

14. A transmitting instrument including a ioc diaphragm, a system. of motion reducing v levers actuated by thediaphragm and carrying a plurality of independently insulated electrodes, and a plurality of pairs of Contact elements, each vpair 'of contact elements respectively engaging a single one'of the said electrodes, and each of said pairs of contacts being balanced kwhereby the inertia of the thereby.

15. A transmitting instrument including a diaphragm, a system of motion reducing levers actuated by the diaphragm and carry-V ing a plurality ofY independently insulated electrodes, and a plurality of movable and replaceable contact elements, each respectively adapted toV engage one of the electrodes, each contact elementand its support having a bal-y` anced mounting so that the inertia thereof will constitute the resistance to the motions Y.

A17# A telephone Vtransmitter including ai,

diaphragm having seating springs at one side and a system of motion transmitting springY elements having a tensioningr engagement with the diaphragm in opposition to the seating spring to provide for a balancing'of the 'diaphrag fr k18. A telephone transmitter including a ydiaphrz'ignn having seating springs at one side,

a system of motion transmitting springs having a tensioning connection with the diaphragm and carrying an electrode, and a contactelement included in the electrical circuit and held against the electrode.v

.In testimonyv whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

' WILLIAM H. CLAYTON.

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